Reds v Force Super Rugby Rd.2 Preview

Queensland Super Rugby franchise the Reds will host the second Australian Super Rugby derby clash of Round 2 as they are at home hosting the Western Force.

Both teams lost their opening matches as the Reds were beaten 30-10 by the Waratahs in Sydney while the Force were beaten 19-25 in Perth by the Melbourne Rebels.

The Force have been given a boost for this match as Wallaby No.8 Ben McCalman makes his return to the side through the replacements bench while Fijian-born flyer, Semisi Masirewa gets his first Super Rugby start after showing promise in 13-minutes off the bench on debut in Round One.

The front row remains unchanged with veteran loosehead Pek Cowan linking up with hooker Nathan Charles and Guy Millar at tighthead. Steve Mafi and Adam Coleman will again partner in the second row. Coleman lead all comers in lineout takes in Round one and will again look to dominate come Saturday.

Rounding out the forward pack Matt Hodgson, Brynard Stander and Angus Cottrell will make up the backrow.

In the backline, scrumhalf Alby Mathewson will again look to provide quality service for Jono Lance at flyhalf. In the centres Solomoni (Junior) Rasolea comes in at No.12 to replace the injured Kyle Godwin while Ben Tapuai returns to Suncorp Stadium to face his old side for the first time. Masirewa, Luke Morahan and Dane Haylett-Petty will make up the back three.

Coming off the bench, Jermaine Ainsley will back up after and impressive performance on debut along with Peter Grant while Marcel Brache moves to the bench.

The Reds have been forced into making changes due to injury and Reds head coach Richard Graham has made two changes to the side that lost to the Waratahs as Japanese Test player Ayumu Goromaru will make his starting debut at fullback while an ankle injury to Henry Teafu (6-8 weeks) sees Karmichael Hunt shift to inside centre.

The Reds have played the Force 15 times in Super Rugby since 2006 when they Western Australian side joined Super Rugby. In those 15 matches the Reds have won 8. drawn one and lost 6. This gives them a record of winning 53% of their matches against the Perth side.

The Reds have played the Force 8 times in Brisbane and won six and lost two. That gives the Reds a record of winning 75% of their home matches against the Western Australia side. The average score when the Reds host the Force is Reds 28 Western Force 17.

The Waratahs said last week that the had to work to beat the Reds who tested them throughout the match but particularly in the second half. The Force look to be still coming to terms with their new style of play and this week may be too soon for them to come good.